Having made the crazy decision not to wait
until passing my driving test, I started looking to buy my Sierra Sapphire
in August 2005 and found a few likely examples on both AutoTrader and
eBay. The intention was to buy one that was already fitted with the Cosworth
bodykit and alloys and preferably in blue, my favourite colour. A tall
order considering the amount of Sierras left on the road, but a likely
candidate in my price range was available to view in Gillingham, Kent.
The car was a 2000E, first registered in 1990 finished in metallic Tasman
Blue and a rare manual example. Before I got my hopes up, I made sure
that I would be able to obtain insurance and once a suitable quote was
received, I made an appointment to view the car and arrived by train.

The address
was within walking distance from the station and before I got there,
I spotted the car
parked out on the street. Time for
a quick once-over before meeting the owner and I was very pleased
with what I saw. No visible rust on any of the usual Sierra troublespots,
tidy grey leather interior and lattice-style alloys and generally
good paintwork on the panels. The only issues I could see was that
the spoiler was the RS-type, not a Cosworth one and had been badly
sprayed with a rattle can, the bonnet was a slightly lighter shade
of blue and the drivers wing had also been resprayed and didn’t
quite match. None of this mattered though as I had made the cardinal
sin of falling for the very first car I viewed. “Hello Sophia,
you’re going to be mine”, I thought.

The
owner was a nice chap who obviously cared a great deal about
the car, so much so he had turned down previous offers because
he wanted to make sure it would be going to a good home. Financial
circumstances prevented him from keeping the car himself, so
an offer was made and accepted with a deposit left. Arrangements
were then made for a friend to accompany me down on the Saturday
to pick the car up and drive it back home. Once the paperwork
was signed and the money changed hands, the car was mine. As
of October 1st 2005, I was the proud owner of my own Ford Sierra
Sapphire. How lucky I felt to have one as my first car :oD

Once I’d
got over the initial excitement, I booked the car in for a full
service and made plans to make a good car even better. First
item bought was an immobiliser, quickly followed by a set of parking
sensors and a Cosworth spoiler to replace the old RS-option one.

An
early shot taken in summer 2006. Note the slightly undersize wheels.

Rear
view - that RS-option spoiler had to go, and that rusty tailpipe!

In
the meantime, I used the car for practice between proper lessons,
much to my instructor’s chagrin as his Vauxhall Corsa felt
totally inferior (particularly the gearbox!) after driving the silky
smooth, not to mention powerful, 2000E. I wasn’t shy about
letting him know it too!!

After
passing my driving test in February 2006, I was then able to
enjoy the car properly and as well as commuting to work, I attended
a
few FSOC pub meets and exhibited at shows such as Classic Ford,
Ford
Fair and the Ford Sierra Owners Club National Day. I also enrolled
on a ‘Car Maintenance for Women’ course because I wanted
to be able to change a tyre and do basic servicing like oil and filter
changes, plus learn about the mechanics of my car. So much so that
I’ve managed to change both rear brake callipers and change
a full set of wheels over as well as other servicing, albeit under
the watchful eye of Sprintex ;o)

Since
owning Sophia, the Cosworth spoiler has been painted and fitted;
the bonnet has been replaced with a Tasman Blue one, an RS badge
added to the bootlid and the rear door trims have been changed
to ones with the ‘Sapphire’ badge. The wheels, although
the correct lattice design for a Cosworth replica, were actually
found to be 14” ones from and Escort rather than the correct
15” items so these were also replaced giving her a much more
purposeful look. The only giveaway that she isn’t a real
Cosworth are the chrome window surrounds and the original ‘Sapphire
2000E’ badge on the bootlid. Mechanically
the car has remained pretty much standard as the 2.0i twin-cam
engine is easily powerful enough and despite her Cosworth aspirations,
externally
she is to remain a ‘comfortable cruiser’. Replacing
the standard air filter with a K+N Induction Kit and fitting a
Scorpion
stainless exhaust backbox has made the car more responsive in the
midrange, as well as adding to the aesthetic noises ;o)

Genuine
Cosworth spoiler and nice big shiny tailpipe, but no pretentions
as she is still proudly badged as a 2000E, albeit with the addition
of 'RS'letters.

A
later photo with the correct 15" lattice alloys and Cosworth
rear spoiler.

Sophia was retired as my daily drive in August 2009 and as hard as that
decision was, it was the right thing to do. I would much rather keep
her for many years in good condition instead of being run into the ground
in a couple of years and seeing her sent to the great Ford dealership
in the sky. As the Sierra was one of the first cars to use engine sensors,
a broker sensor which cannot be replaced would effectively end the useful
life of the car, so it makes sense to stockpile these items and keep
mileage to a minimum. A full restoration is in the pipeline with most
parts squirreled away. The tow bar will be removed and ready to be fitted
are four A1 condition doors, a full set of polybushes, a replacement
Cosworth front bumper and chin spoiler and four diamond cut lattice alloys
amongst other service items. After the restoration, a respray in Tasman
Blue is planned but with a subtle hint of rainbow metal flake to complement
her chrome trim and diamond cut alloys.